ATI’s 40nm GPU is an exciting development and takes over from the 4850 as the best mid-range card.

A capable card – decent performance without a high price.

A cheap card, with the bonus of reasonable gaming ability.

Not the perfect value card it once was, but still worth a look.

Not particulary quick, but a resonably priced media card.

On its last legs, it costs as much as faster cards.

Can't handle gaming and beaten by cheaper media cards too.

Can’t handle gaming, and beaten by cheaper media cards too.

Cheap and functional, but rivals perform better.

An excellent take on ATI’s new technology, complete with custom cooling and great performance

A reworking of an old card from Palit, but it’s not quite enough to beat the 9600 GT

A wonderful return to form, leaving the disappointment of the 8600 GT as just a distant memory.

Great performance at an appealing price, although the 9600 GT encroaches on its turf

Affordable and fast, the 8800 GS was our top budget choice until the 9600 GT arrived to spoil the party.

It had little competition at this price, and it knocks Nvidia 8600 cards out of the race, but Nvidia’s 9600 GT trumps it.

Superseded by both Nvidia’s new 9600 card and ATi’s excellent HD 3800 series

Disappointing gaming ability and a higher price than media-centre cards rule this one out of contention

It may be affordable, but we’d rather spend a little more to guarantee some genuine gaming ability

The 9600 GT redefines the mainstream graphics market, offering high-end power at a mid-range price. At this price we want one.

Good performance and value, plus plenty of media-centre practicality in this silent graphics card